DETAILED Fpdc Tutorial – How to Crochet Front Post Stitches

Have you ever felt intimidated by front post stitches? If so, you’re not alone. But post stitches like the fpdc do not have to be hard. I will teach you everything you need to know in this ultimate tutorial! We’ll cover not only the basic stitch, but also how to work fpdc in the round, how to make a fpdc decrease (fpdc2tog) and more!

What does Fpdc mean?

Just the abbreviation “fpdc” can seem strange if you’ve never encountered it before. Fpdc stands for “front post double crochet.” It refers to a specific way of working a double crochet stitch.

Fpdc vs. Dc

The difference between the front post double and the regular double crochet is actually quite slim. The stitch itself is worked in the same way.

The main difference is where you insert the hook. While the regular dc inserts at the top of the stitch like normal, the fpdc inserts the hook around the post, or body, of the stitch.

I’ll show you up close what that means soon!

How to Work the Front Post Double Crochet Stitch

Without further ado, let’s get right into the details of the front post double crochet stitch tutorial! I’ve put together a variety of collages that show the steps visually up close. Read the instructions below and then look at the collages to understand more fully. Or, you can also watch the video tutorial.

Video Tutorial:

Step 1:

Before starting a front post double crochet, you need a row of regular double crochet. Make a chain to your desired length, then work 1 row of double crochet before proceeding. Then, chain 3 and turn to start the fpdc row.

Step 2:

After making your turning chain, you can begin the fpdc. Yarn over just like you would for a regular dc, then insert your hook around the post of the next stitch (see the top right photo). I’m basically putting my hook from back to front AROUND the body of the stitch.

Step 3:

Yarn over and pull up a loop just like a regular dc. This will feel slightly different since we inserted our hook in a different place, but the concept is the same. (See both middle photos).

Step 4:

Now you can complete the dc like normal! YO, pull through 2 loops, YO pull through 2 loops again. On the bottom right photo you can see the finished fpdc, right next to the turning chain. The fpdc should pop out from the work a bit.

Step 5:

Let’s do that again in the next stitch. To start another fpdc, insert your hook between the dc you just worked in and the next dc. (top left photo)

Step 6:

Bring the hook out the front of the work, on the other side of the current dc. You have now successfully inserted your hook around the post of the stitch!

Step 7:

Repeat steps 3-4 again—yarn over, pull up a loop, and finish the double crochet just like normal. In the bottom photo you can see what two fpdc look like next to each other.

Doing Regular Double Crochet & Fpdc

Now, working the fpdc by itself isn’t too tricky once you find the post. But where it gets a little more difficult is when you have to alternate between fpdc and regular dc. You have to work around posts, and then in the tops of stitches, without getting confused and accidentally increasing a stitch.

So let’s dive into some tips that will help you understand stitch anatomy.

The Tips

Look at the back of the work. If you’re ever unsure where to place a regular dc, it is helpful to look at the back. Any stitches that you already worked into with a fpdc will have a set of 2 horizontal bars going around the stitch. Once you locate those bars, trace the stitch upward to find the top of the stitch.

So what you want to do is find the tops of all the fpdc you already made. The tops of these stitches are off limits (because if you work into them, you will increase a stitch!)

Once you locate these on the back, you know to skip them. So find the next dc after the stitches with horizontal bars. Follow the second photo below to see exactly which dc you should be working into.

The last thing you want to do is turn your work around. Once you find the correct dc to work into, I recommend holding your fingers over the top of the stitch as you flip it around, you don’t lose it (it can look very different from the front!)

Now we have learned the basics of a fpdc stitch. So let’s move onto some intermediate techniques that incorporate this stitch!

Fpdc Standing Stitch

If you want to work fpdc in the round with color changes, a helpful technique to know is the fpdc standing stitch. This involves creating a stitch without the use of a slip stitch or a chain to get started.

To practice this stitch, you’ll want a small round of double crochet made. I did about 20 dc in the round for a tiny swatch for this tutorial.

Step 1:

To make a standing stitch, put a slip knot on your hook. Yarn over. Use your thumb to hold the slip knot and the yarn over in place. Then, insert your hook around the post of any dc in the round (top photos).

Step 2:

Continue to make the fpdc as normal from here! The only difference is that slip knot and yarn over can tend to move around a lot and make the stitch difficult to finish. This is why I recommend holding them firmly in place with your thumb while you pull up the loop. Then, carefully finish the stitch as normal. (middle photos)

Step 3:

From here, you can continue working in the round with whatever stitches your pattern specifies! The nice thing about a standing stitch is it makes for a seamless color-change. So once you get around the whole round, you can simply join with a slip stitch. (bottom right photo shows sts just before the join)

Front Post Double Crochet in the Round

To continue with a single color with fpdc in the round, you will need to know how to start and end the round.

I recommend starting each round with a chain 2 that does NOT count as a stitch. Work a fpdc around the next stitch. And there you’ve started a round!

From here you can continue around according to your pattern. Once you get to the end, join with a slip stitch to the first fpdc, NOT the chain 2 (second photo).

Fpdc2tog (Front Post Double Crochet Decrease)

The last technique for us to learn is a front post double crochet decrease. This is abbreviated as “fpdc2tog.” While this is not a super common stitch, it does appear in more advanced patterns. It is a good one to know!

Step 1:

To start your decrease, begin like you’re making a regular fpdc. YO, insert hook around the post of the next stitch. YO, pull up a loop, YO, draw through 2 loops. YO, but DON’T finish the stitch…

Step 2:

Instead of finishing the stitch, now you want to insert your hook around the post of the NEXT stitch! (middle left photo). YO and draw up a loop so that you now have 4 loops on your hook. YO and draw through 2 of those loops.

Step 3:

You should now have 3 loops on your hook (bottom left photo). YO and draw through all 3 loops!

Your fpdc2tog is now finished.

What to Learn Next

Congrats, you’ve now learned quite a bit about front post stitches! Next, I recommend learning the back post double crochet right away (fpdc and bpdc are very often used together in patterns). Then, you can put your knowledge to use by learning some awesome stitch patterns, like the following:

Raised V-Stitch – this is a great one to start out with, because it only uses fpdc and regular dc (no bpdc!)

Alpine Stitch – this is a great warm, textured stitch that also just focuses on fpdc and regular dc. Not too hard at all!

Diagonal Post Stitch – this stitch creates a cool leaning pattern of post stitches. It uses both fpdc and bpdc.

Flying V-Stitch – another v-stitch variation that uses fpdc to widen and enhance the v’s.

Fpdc FAQ

What is Fpdc in crochet UK?

The fpdc that we just learned is the US fpdc. The UK fpdc is actually equal to the US fpsc (front post single crochet).

How do I alternate Fpdc and Bpdc?

Great question! First you need to learn the back post double crochet stitch. Then, you can alternate fpdc and bpdc to form a ribbing. This is not hard to do at all—you simply make one stitch, and then the other. But if you’re stuck on how to make it work, I recommend finding a good video tutorial to help.

Are there other post stitches to learn?

Yes, there are lots more post stitches to learn! You can make post stitches with any stitch, not just double crochet. You will definitely want to learn front post and back post single crochet, along with front post and back post half double crochet. And, there is even a front post triple crochet!

Conclusion

The front post double crochet is a versatile stitch that can be used to enhance a project in so many ways. When you learn how to make fpdc in the round and decrease in fpdc, you are well on your way to being an expert at this stitch! So what are you waiting for? Grab a hook and yarn, and start practicing fpdc today!